Last Triple Crown jockey predicts win
Hall of Fame jocky Steve Cauthen thinks California Chrome has what it takes
SARATOGA SPRINGS » Steve Cauthen says winning the Triple Crown by a nose with Affirmed felt like knocking out Muhammad Ali in the final round of a heavyweight fifight.
All the pressure that had built up over the previous three weeks, since capturing the Preakness, came to an exhilarating conclusion at the Belmont Stakes fifinish line that June day in 1978.
No horse since Affiffirmed has accomplished the feat, but Cauthen, his Hall of Fame jockey, believes California Chrome can do it on Saturday.
“I think he’s got a chance,” he said. “He’s proven that he’s the best horse over a mile-anda-quarter. One-and-a-half miles is a slightly difffffffffffferent animal, but I think he responds a lot like Affifirmed in the way he races. He’s got all the tools. It’s a question of whether he’s got the stamina.”
Cauthen is particularly impressed by Cal Chrome’s ability to win regardless of the situation.
“He’s got options,” he said. “He went to the front in the SantaAnitaDerbyandwon.In the (Kentucky) Derby he was fourth or fifth before making his move; the same with the Preakness. He let the speed horses go. Then he picked it up on his own.
“He’s got great temperament, great character.”
Cauthen was just 18 when he and Affirmed made racing history, the youngest jockey ever to win the Triple Crown. However, he’d already captured the spotlight the previous year when he won 487 races and was the first rider to top the $6 million plateau in earnings in a single season.Sports Illus-- trated and The Sporting News named him Sportsman of the Year and he was also the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year.
“But I’ve never had a greater moment than the Belmont,” Cauthen said. “That is basically unbeatable to win the Triple Crown and win it in that fashion.”
There’s considerable speculation that horses such as Com- manding Curve that skipped the Preakness will be more rested than Cal Chrome. However, Cauthen isn’t concerned.
“Cal Chrome seems to be thriving on his races,” he said. “Cal Chrome may actually be improving right now. He may even beat them farther.”
Cauthen is devoted to breeding horses now at his Dreamfields farm in Verona, Ky.
On Saturday, he’ll be among the huge throng at Belmont, pulling for Cal Chrome and his jockey, Victor Espinoza, to become the newest Triple Crown champions.
Eleven horses since 1978, including Sackatoga Stable’s Funny Cide in 2003, have fallen one leg short after winning the Derby and Preakness.
“There was a gap of 25 years between Citation (1948) and Secretariat (1973),” Cau- then said. “A lot of people were saying, ‘It can’t be done.’ It’s the samething now. A lot of horses are nearly good enough, but not quite. Super special horses capable of doing special things don’t come along all the time. You might see one once in your lifetime. That’s what makes it even more special if you get to see one now.”
“It would be fantastic for the game,” he said.